Albert A. Stallone

Judge Albert A. Stallone, 91, died peacefully surrounded by members of his family at his home in Wyomissing, PA on June 29, 2024. Born in Reading on April 5, 1933, he spent much of his youth as a resident of the Home for Friendless Children (subsequently renamed The Children's Home of Reading) until the age of 12. When his father returned from serving in WWII, they lived in a one room apartment together until he completed high school. Graduating from Reading High School in 1951, he went on to graduate from Wesley Junior College, the undergraduate school of American University, and then its Washington College of Law. He was later voted into the Hall of Fame at Southern Junior High School, Reading Senior High School, and at Wesley Junior College. At American University he met the love of his life, Orpha C. Dodge, who became his wife of almost 68 years.

Judge Stallone is survived by their four children: Rocky Stallone (partner Barbara Stallone), Susan Kelly, Sandy Fordice (married to Bob Serrone), and Marty Stallone (married to Terri Stallone). He was devoted to his ten grandchildren: Sonny Stallone, Daniel Fordice (wife Garland), Samantha Muir (husband Chad), Ryan Fordice (wife Shana), Liza Kelly, Jack Kelly, Wade Stallone, Mitchell Fordice, Emily Fordice, and Jolie Stallone. He is also survived by four great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews, two half-brothers Jim and John Stallone, a half-sister Jean Favinger, and his stepmother, Ruth Stallone. He is predeceased by his wife Orpha and his sister and her husband, Sally and Ted Smith.

Judge Stallone was widely regarded as a man of action, a man of creative ideas and the energy and organizational skills to convert those ideas into action – a man who produced results for the good of his community. He devoted himself to the legal profession and to professional and philanthropic organizations that served families, children, and those less fortunate. A veteran attorney in private practice for 28 years, he began his career in 1960 as the youngest person appointed as Assistant District Attorney in Berks County. He later served as solicitor to the Register of Wills and the Orphan's Court. He served as legal counsel to numerous school districts, municipalities, churches, charitable organizations, and local industries including then privately held Morgan Trailer and Graco Children's Products. He was a member of the American, Pennsylvania and Berks County Bar Associations and the American Judicative Society. He chaired many Berks County Bar Association committees such as the Legal Aid & Lawyer Referral Committee, (where in 1963 he brought to Berks its first government financed Public Defender Program in the state), the Family Law Section (Founding Chair), and was a former President of the Endlich Law Club.

Upon becoming a judge of the Berks County Court of Common Pleas in 1987, he immediately got to work on addressing community issues as well as managing his case load. It had always been his ambition to enter public service after his children completed college. During this time, he also designed and built his dream home in Wyomissing Park. In 2000, Judge Stallone attained his dream job when he was unanimously voted President Judge of the Berks County Court of Common Pleas by the county's board of judges. Again, he assumed this position with a full slate of initiatives in addition to his caseload. His first priority was to address the then significant backlog of cases across the court system, which he achieved by restructuring and restaffing the civil, criminal and family court divisions. There was little to no backlog by the time he retired five years later at the mandatory age of 70. Other initiatives included establishing the first Drug & Alcohol Treatment Court in Berks County, which was subsequently designated as a "pilot" for DUI and mental health court cases by the National Highway Safety Board; partnering with the District Attorney in creating "Operation Night Light" which moved probation officers out of their offices to the streets to work hand in hand with police officers; creating the Domestic Violence Coordination Policy Group for Berks County – a first in Pennsylvania – for which he was honored by Berks Women in Crisis in 2004 with their "Voices for Change Award"; and upgrading the security and computerization of the courthouse. During his tenure as President Judge, he also served as President of the Pennsylvania Conference of State Trial Judges in 2001. After his retirement at age 70 in 2003, he went on to serve as a Senior Judge for eight additional years until he permanently retired in 2011.

During his years as a Senior Judge, he authored The History and Biographical Annals of Italian Americans of Berks County, published in 2007.

Judge Stallone was very active in philanthropic organizations throughout his lifetime. He served for eighteen years as President of the Board of Directors of the Children's Home of Reading (the name change being one of his first actions). He attended Holy Cross United Methodist Church from the age of 5, and as an adult served as Chairman of its Task Force on Social Concerns which in turn established Northwest Neighborhood Ministries to serve dependent and neglected children. He served on local and regional committees of the Lions Club International. And he was extremely proud of bringing together his beloved community as co-organizer of the Columbus '92 Celebration Commission of Berks County, celebrating multicultural pride in Reading.

Above all, Al Stallone was a devoted family man, fiercely devoted to his wife, children, grandchildren and extended family. He will be sorely missed, and will live on in our hearts always.

Family and friends are invited Monday, July 15th for Visitation from 9:30am – 11:00am in the Sanctuary of West Lawn United Methodist Church (15 Woodside Avenue, West Lawn, PA 19609). The funeral service will begin immediately thereafter at 11:00am, also in the Sanctuary. The family invites attendees to join them in the Community Center at West Lawn United Methodist Church immediately after the funeral for light refreshments. Burial will follow the fellowship time at Union Cemetery in Womelsdorf, PA. In lieu of flowers, donations to The Children's Home of Reading are welcome. Funeral arrangements are made by Kuhn Funeral Home in West Reading.